NONG KHAI — Immigration police in Nong Khai have arrested a Chinese engineer who allegedly slipped into Thailand through a natural border crossing after being blacklisted, along with two accomplices who came to pick him up.
The arrest took place around 12:30 p.m. on November 17 along the Mekong riverside road in front of a hotel in Nong Khai municipality. Immigration investigators stopped a Chon Buri–registered car driven by Wang Tao, 43, a Chinese national, accompanied by Vaewmani, 29, a Lao national. The pair had arrived to collect Qu Yuanyuan, 38, a Chinese citizen who had illegally crossed the border into Nong Khai.
Police say the group planned to travel to Prachin Buri, where Qu intended to take on a construction subcontract for a factory project.
A background check revealed that Qu had been banned from entering Thailand for one year, until September 30, 2026, due to a previous overstay violation. He had been deported but allegedly attempted to return to resume work in the country.
During questioning, Vaewmani told officers that Wang invited her to Nong Khai to help pick up Qu, a close friend, who was fully aware of his blacklist status. Qu allegedly arranged to cross into Thailand through a natural border route before meeting them at the agreed spot by the Mekong.
Shortly after Qu entered the vehicle, officers moved in and detained all three suspects.
Police have charged Vaewmani and Wang with aiding and harboring an illegal entrant, while Qu has been charged with illegally entering and residing in the kingdom. All three have been handed over to Nong Khai city police investigators for legal proceedings.
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